Tommy Craig admitted his disappointment as Newcastle United Reserves saw their season peter out with a injury-time defeat against Manchester City.

United's league campaign ended with a 2-1 defeat on a difficult Kingston Park pitch in front of watching City boss Kevin Keegan.

It meant United - who face Whitley Bay at St James's Park tonight in the Northumberland Senior Cup final (7.00) - ended their season with a run of five league defeats in eight games.

And Lee Croft's 90th-minute winner for City also left Newcastle's second string fourth from bottom in the Premiership Reserve League.

Skipper Bradley Orr had opened the scoring when he bundled in Wayne Quinn's free-kick in the 27th minute, only for Jon Macken to level from the penalty spot three minutes before the break following Titus Bramble's push on him.

And Craig admitted after the game that his side did not really create many clear openings, despite a three-pronged attack of Michael Chopra, Marc Walton and Lomana LuaLua.

"Both teams found it difficult to create chances on that pitch," said Craig. "Unfortunately for us, they conjured something up in injury time.

"We hit the bar but in truth didn't really look like scoring. As has often happened, we got ourselves in front but couldn't hold on to that lead. It's been a disappointing season in that respect. It's not been one to enthuse over.

"We played some good football and had some good performances but not enough over the season."

Quinn's left-foot, inswinging free-kick from the right broke the deadlock, with Orr able to get enough of a touch on the ball to see it home.

But United were unable to build on their lead and Bramble was harshly adjudged to have pushed Macken in the box in the 42th minute, and the former Preston North End striker beat Tony Caig to the rebound after the keeper had saved his initial spot-kick.

Chopra almost got on the end of a Lee Norton cross on the stroke of half-time and Newcastle had to wait until the 78th minute for their next real chance, when Jamie McClen hit the bar from long range.

And Djamel Belmadi made up for his 88th-minute miss when he set up substitute Croft in the dying seconds for the winner.

The East Stand at St James's will be open for tonight's match against Whitley Bay, with entry #5 for adults and #2 concessions.